DigitalArk Project Blog: The Social Network of Early Modern Collections of Curiosities: Images

About the Digital Ark

The Digital Ark is a database of artifacts and natural specimens as represented by surviving records of early modern collections, museum databases, contemporary drawings and engravings, as well as images of extant remnants of these collections. Initially, this database will focus on England and Scotland from 1580-1700, beginning with the collection of Walter Cope and ending with Ralph Thoresby. It will include any collection that aimed at diversity of both natural specimens and artifacts that were valued for being unusual, rare, or exotic. It will therefore exclude collections that were singular in focus (e.g. exclusively numismatic or art collections) but will include, for instance, collections that are chiefly naturalia if they contain at least one other class of object (antiquities for example) and an interest in the strange and exotic. While it will begin with a geographically limited focus, this database will be structured and designed to be interoperable with related materials pertaining to other geographical regions and will make provisions for participation and contribution by the wider community of interested users.

For more information on this project contact Brent Nelson at brent.nelson@usask.ca

DigitalArk Project Blog:
The Social Network of Early Modern Collections of Curiosities

Images

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Guillermo del Toro: A Modern Appreciator of Curiosities

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